Improvement in sheet-metal cans



, those made of thin weak metal.

' Manni STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE H. OHINNOGK, BROOKLYN, 'NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD RICHARDSON, OF 'SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-M'ETAL-CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,996, dated June 20, 1876; application [iled April 15, 1876.

To all whom 'it may concern: v

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. OHINNOCK, of Brooklyn, in the countyotl Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Sheet-Metal Gans, of which the following vis a specification:

This invention relates to that class of selfopening cans, s o termed, which are provided with a wire arranged underneath the rim of the cover, one end of the wire projecting outside of said cover in such manner that by-exertin g a radial strain upon the wire it may be caused to rip through and around the rim, thereby detaching the cover from the body of the can. y

It is found, in practice with this class of cans, that unless the sheet metal of which the rim is formed is very thin, and consequently very weak, a very considerable force is required to thus sever the cover from the body, and there is great liability of breaking the wire before the object isaccomplished.

This invention is designed to provide a can of the class mentioned, in which the strength of the rim or cover shall not be materially diminished, but which shall at the same timebe capable of being cut with the same facility as To this end my invention comprises the combination, in a self-opening tin can (or box) of the class mentioned, of a cutting or severing wire, provided in any usual or suitable relation with the body of the can, anda cover, the rim or top of which is thinned or grooved circumferentially in a plane coincident with the wire, said rim being soldered at the lower edge of the body of the can in the ordinary manner, by which means the rim is rendered capable ot' easy rupture'by the radial strain exerted upon the wire in opening the can, without in anywise 'affecting in practice the' strength of said rim in retaining the cover in place during storage, transportation, &c.

Figure l is a central longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a side view, of a sheet-metal can made according to my invention.

A is the body of the can, of any ordinary or suitable shape or contour, provided with an internal bead, a, at a proper distance from its upper edge, whereby is provided an external groove, c, in which is placed the Wire f, as more fully shown in Fig. 1. One end, et', of this wire is made fast, preferably, by being passed through and hooked in a small hole or perforation, a, provided in the body A.

The wire being thus placed in position the cover B is shut down upon the top of the can, its rim g shutting around the circumference thereof, and closin g the wire within the groove. The lower edge of the rim g is sodered to the body A, as represented at c'. The free end of the wire f is extended out through a hole or opening through the rim g in such manner that it may be readily grasped by the ngers, or wound upon a suitable key for drawing the sa"`me in a direction radial to the axis of the can, The rim g of the cover B is internally grooved around its circumference, as indicated at n, in Fig. l, this groove being made by cutting into the sheet metal of which the rim is made, by any suitable means. The shape of this groove is not important, as it may, if desired, comprise simply a cut made to the requisite depth, or it may have more or less width, or be more or less clearly de- 'ued, as may be preferred, the object being simply to render the rim g practically thin in a line or planepoincident with the wire f, in or# der that the metal at that particular part shall afford less resistance to the ripping or tearing action of the wire in opening the can, as hereinafter more fully explained. Neither is my invention limited to the arrangement of said groove in the rim g, inasmuch as the arrangement of said groovein the same relation with the ripping-wire in the top of the cover B, or to any other portion of the can, would be but an equivalent of my herein described construction ot' the can.

In order to open the can it is only necessary to seize the outwardly-projecting end f ofthe wiref. and to exert a strain thereonin a directached, the ripping'extending eith'erl entirely around the can, or for the greaterpartof'the circumference of the said can, as may be preferred or found necessary.

I am aware that ripping-wires have been attached in various -waysto self-,opening cans, V s o termed. Such, therefore, I do notclaim.

l do not` in this present 'applicationclaim,` broadly, a. cover grooved or thinned, to provide aline of rupture inthe openingof :the

can, inasmuch as Ihave made such claim in `a former application for a patent led April v11, 1876; but- What I do here claim as my invention` isf-f jasset forth.

In comhinationfwith the `ripping-wire, pro- `vided `to th'eibo,dy A, thecoveriB, .grooved or thinned in a line coincident with the position `-of' the ripping-wire f,`whereby the rupturiug action of the ripping-wire in opening the can jis, greatly. facilitated iwithoutin anywise` prac.- tically affecting the strength of the cover by 'the strength ofits connection Abetween the cover' and the body of the can,substantial1y GEO. H. CHIITNOCK.` Witnesses:

EDWARD` vHODY, H. WELLS, Jr: 

